Thinkpads Forum

I just ordered an x61, upgrading from a T43.

I have an application that I demo that I prefer to run isolated in Windows 2003 Server. VMWare is not an option for this application.

Currently, I use the Ultrabay with a separate hard drive, and just F12 when I boot and boot from it when I need this. Though a pain to set up originally (had to swap it into the internal drive, then swap back), it works like a charm.

In X61 land if I want to do the same I will have to carry around an Ultrabase and get a new Ultrabay drive (current is IDE). I know the Ultrabase is light, but part of my motivation for going to X61 is weight (I move around a lot with this machine), so I was wondering whether I'd be able to install 2003 server onto an external USB drive, and run it from there. It seems that some folks have managed to do this to a USB stick, but will require a lot of massaging to do this.

Can anyone advise on whether booting (and running) from an external USB HD is possible on an X61? I would assume I would have to do what I did with the T43 and install 2003 server in the internal drive bay first.

Any advice would be appreciated.

kennyschiff wrote:Can anyone advise on whether booting (and running) from an external USB HD is possible on an X61? I would assume I would have to do what I did with the T43 and install 2003 server in the internal drive bay first.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Booting from an external USB device is not a problem on the X61. Booting Windows is. Unless 2003 Server is vastly different from XP, I don't think you'll be able to get Windows installed and booting from the external drive.

Is there any particular reason that dual-booting from the internal drive isn't an option?

Dual boot is an options, but external drive is cleaner.

kennyschiff wrote:In X61 land if I want to do the same I will have to carry around an Ultrabase and get a new Ultrabay drive (current is IDE).

You can boot from your current PATA Ultrabay slim drive and carrier in the Ultrabase slot, if you are aiming to keep costs down.

As other have noted above, booting any Windows OS from an USB drive is not really a viable option.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Good to know that the PATA drive will work.